Posted on 09/10/2006 4:56:23 PM PDT by naturalman1975
THE shape of the world changed five years ago, on September 11, 2001. It changed fundamentally, and perhaps forever. Every geo-strategic, economic, political, developmental equation changed because of the war on terror. Whether 9/11 caused it or merely revealed it, we are now alive in the age of terror.
You think that an exaggeration?
Perhaps economics will dwarf terrorism, and overcome it. But economics itself has changed. For much of the past year, oil was priced at $US70 ($91) a barrel or more, in part as a result of the war on terror. That changes every economic equation.
What about traditional strategic equations among big states? Surely they won't be cast aside by the admittedly murderous actions of an Islamist fringe?
Yet consider that the US has already waged two conventional wars, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, arising out of the war on terror. The very fact of having done this severely limits the credibility of the US military presence in other theatres.
This has had some upside too. The Bush administration has had three huge successes in Asia, largely unremarked but of immense importance to Australia.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
This is a really thoughtful article.
Yet consider that the US has already waged two conventional wars, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, arising out of the war on terror. The very fact of having done this severely limits the credibility of the US military presence in other theatres.
Ok I freely admit to not be all that bright, but how is this true? How has the fact that we've invaded and liberated two nations severly limit the credibility of the US military presence in other theatres?
From the context, I gather that a more appropriate word might've been "resources" -- as in "severely limit the resources of the U.S. military presence in other areas".
So, it's either bad editing or "credibility" has a different connotation in Aussie (quite possible).
Thanks. That at least makes sense.
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